EVANSVILLE, IN — Indiana authorities have charged a table games supervisor at Bally’s Evansville Casino, Edward A. Hill, along with Mark Edge, for running an illegal poker operation in southern Indiana. Hill, 53, of Evansville, is accused of operating the illicit poker room, which has been in business since July 2021. The charges, which include corrupt business influence, professional gambling, and promoting professional gambling, carry potential penalties of prison time and hefty fines.
The Operation and Investigation
The illegal poker room, operating under the name “Ed’s Poker Club,” was situated in a business-zoned building on Evansville’s northeast side. The games, which typically offered a few tables of Texas Hold’em and Omaha, were held during the evenings and some afternoons. The poker operation was initially brought to light when a confidential source tipped off the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) in January 2022. The source, who continued to play in the games while secretly recording evidence, helped agents build their case.
Agents raided the room in April 2022, seizing gaming equipment, financial records, and over $9,000 in cash. A simultaneous search of Hill’s residence led to the discovery of an additional $13,000 in cash, including funds from a “bad-beat jackpot” linked to the operation. While Hill cooperated with authorities, turning over his phone’s contents, which revealed a trove of communication, investigators learned that Hill had invited approximately 100 players to the games and profited around $200 per night.
Hill and Edge’s Roles
Hill operated the poker room in addition to his regular job at Bally’s Evansville, while Edge, 41, of Owensboro, Kentucky, acted as the day-to-day manager and primary dealer of the games. Edge is accused of receiving 25% of the room’s proceeds, along with tips. Although Edge had not been arrested as of Thursday night, both he and Hill are facing charges that could lead to prison sentences ranging from six months to six years, depending on the charges.
A Web of Deceit
One interesting aspect of the case was the method used to disguise the operation from the landlord of the building housing the poker room. Hill and a local real estate agent, Troy Tornatta, worked together to set up the room under the guise of opening a “business office” for a temp agency. This deceptive tactic was employed to prevent the landlord from discovering the illegal poker activities.
While Hill cooperated with investigators, the role of Tornatta, though key to the room’s setup, remains uncharged.
The Larger Context
Authorities discovered that Hill had been involved in at least three other underground poker operations in the Evansville area. His involvement in these operations grew after Bally’s Evansville closed its poker room due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Despite a lack of a permanent poker room at Bally’s, Hill continued his underground operations, capitalizing on the local demand for poker games.
Both Hill and Edge now face serious legal consequences for their roles in this long-running illegal gambling operation. The case highlights the challenges authorities face in policing underground gambling activities, especially when they are hidden behind legitimate business fronts.
